RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS INMATE HANDBOOK A.T. WALL II Director May, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION RIDOC Mission Statement and Purpose 6 CHAPTER 2 FACILITY ORIENTATION Inmate Counts 6 Cell/Room Searches 7 Strip Searches and Frisk Searches 7 Fire Evacuation 7 Leisure Time 7 Controlled Movement 8 Identification Cards 8 Access to the Courts and Legal Materials/Law Library 8 Good Time Awarding Meritorious and Restoring Lost or Forfeited 9 Statutory Good Behavior Credit 9 Industrial Time 10 Loss of Good Time and Restoring Lost or Forfeited Good Time 10 Meritorious Good Time 10 Awaiting Trial Good Time 11 Religious Programs and Services 11 CHAPTER 3 COMMUNICATION Request Slips 11 Staff/Inmate Communication 11 Inmate Telephones/Monitoring Conversations 12
Inmate Mail 13 Indigent Inmates 14 Printed Material 15 CHAPTER 4 PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Visits 16 Visits to Hospitalized Inmates 17 Long Distance Visits 17 B, C, and Disciplinary Confinement (DC) Status Inmate Visits 17 Professional Visits (Attorneys, clergy, and others) 18 Visits from Minors 18 Common Law Marriages 18 CHAPTER 5 PROPERTY Inmate Accountability/ Incoming Property 18 Court Clothes 19 Laundry 19 Inmate Commissary/Store Orders 19 CHAPTER 6 EMPLOYMENT Inmate Jobs 20 Inmate Employment, Selection, Training and Supervision 20 Pay Rate and Discipline 20 CHAPTER 7 INMATE ACCOUNTS Deposits 21 Expenditures and Authority for Approval 22
Money Transfers 23 Withdrawal of Monies at Release 23 CHAPTER 8 DISCIPLINE Smoking & Tobacco Regulations 23 Substance Abuse Testing 24 Gang Activity 24 Sexual Misconduct 25 CHAPTER 9 DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES Code of Inmate Discipline 25 The Disciplinary Process 26 Punishable Conduct 27 Requests for Review 28 Restitution 29 CHAPTER 10 USE OF FORCE Use of Force 29 CHAPTER 11 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE Grievance Procedure 30 Informal Request 31 Level 1 and Level 2 Grievance Requests 31 Emergency Grievances 31 CHAPTER 12 CLASSIFICATION PROCESS Overview of Classification Process 32 Admission and Orientation 32
CHAPTER 13 HEALTH CARE SERVICES Treatment Philosophy and Access to Care 34 Medical Co-Pays 34 Routine Medical Visits and Emergency Sick Calls 35 Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medication 35 Keep-On-Person (KOP) Medication 35 Confidentiality of Medical Information 36 Right to Refuse Treatment 36 Inmate Complaints Relative to Health Care Services 37 Suicide/Mental Health 37 CHAPTER 14 DISCHARGE PLANNING INFORMATION Discharge Planning/Expiration of Sentence 38
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Policy: Mission Statement The mission of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) is to contribute to public safety by maintaining a balanced correctional system of institutional and community programs that provide a range of control and rehabilitation options for criminal offenders. Purpose This inmate handbook was prepared to help you adjust to life in the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI). This handbook is available in English and Spanish. You are encouraged to become familiar with this handbook. It will help you know what is expected of you and what you may expect from the staff. This handbook is a guide governing inmate conduct and behavior and is not intended to serve as a substitute for current RIDOC policy. Where the rules outlined in this handbook differ from those in RIDOC policy, RIDOC policy will be used. Therefore, you may refer to the relevant policies available in the inmate law library. Following the rules carefully will make awaiting trial time or sentenced time easier to serve. Please read through the sections that apply to you. If you come across words that you do not understand, ask for help from an Officer, Counselor, other staff or another inmate who is willing to assist you. This handbook s language is general and applies to most circumstances of day-to-day life at the ACI. Facility-specific information (visit schedules, count times, cell content, laundry, recreation, programs, etc.) is provided in each facility. All rules and regulations are subject to change. Any items not covered in this handbook will not be allowed without express permission from the Warden or his/her designee. The RIDOC expects you to adhere to the accepted laws of society in addition to institutional rules. CHAPTER 2 FACILITY ORIENTATION Counts Counts are a very important part of the correctional system. An Officer counts all inmates who are present and determines why inmates are absent (court, hospital, work, etc.). If you are not in your proper place for a count, you will be booked for breaking a rule. You may not disrupt, delay, or confuse counts in any fashion.
There are six (6) scheduled formal counts every day. At the command (for example, stand by for count ), you will immediately return to your assigned cell, dormitory, or room. You should learn the procedures and exact times of scheduled formal counts of your facility. Once in your assigned housing unit, you must position yourself in plain view of the cell door. In dormitories or open living areas, you will line up in front of your bed for official counts (except after lights out). You should be positioned in such a manner to be plainly visible to the Officer conducting the count. When informal counts are called at other times of the day, you will stand by at your detail (work, recreation, etc.), and the count will be taken by the detail supervisor. Emergency counts are formal counts and can be ordered at any time. When called, you will immediately go to your assigned living quarters (same as above). All inmate movement must stop before the count begins and remain stopped until the count is clear and correct. If you fail to comply with count instructions, you will be subject to immediate disciplinary action and referral for a disciplinary hearing. Cell/Room Searches In order to effectively control contraband, unannounced cell/room searches are conducted frequently, with no observable pattern. You do not have to be present if your cell/room is being searched. Strip Searches Strip searches of inmates will always be conducted for objective purposes only and are always carried out in a quick and efficient manner. They are never done as punishment or as a form of harassment. Frisk Searches Frisk searches are conducted at random if an Officer believes there is a good reason to do so to control contraband. Fire Evacuation All facilities are routinely inspected for compliance with fire protection standards and maintaining all fire detection and containment systems. Fire drills are regularly performed on each shift. Each facility has specific area fire evacuation plans posted for staff and inmates to view. You should learn the fire evacuation plan of your facility. In the event of an unannounced fire drill or actual emergency, you should stand by for instructions, and then do as instructed in an orderly manner. You will be notified by the quickest means available of any fire or other emergency within the facility. Leisure Time All inmates on normal institutional status have a maximum possible amount of time outside their living areas for visits, religious services, the law library, educational
programs and indoor/outdoor recreational activities. You should check the facilityspecific Master Schedule postings concerning religious services, educational programs and events. Controlled Movement The highest possible level of security and control is maintained at all times to ensure the protection of structure, equipment and the safety of all persons at the RIDOC. During controlled movements, you are responsible for following directions and moving in a quick and orderly fashion. You can bring only materials necessary and related to your destination. Policy: Inmate Identification Cards All inmates confined at RIDOC are issued identification (ID) cards. An ID card is generated and issued by the ID Unit staff on the day you are committed. You are not allowed to leave your housing unit without wearing your ID card in a place designated by your facility. You may be disciplined for failure to comply with the rules and regulations of a facility concerning ID cards (failure to wear your ID card in a noticeable manner, loss or destruction, having another inmate s card, etc.). In addition to possible disciplinary charges, you may be subject to pay $3.00 for a replacement ID card. A free temporary ID card will be issued to you at discharge. This ID is valid for thirty days from the date you are released. Once released, you should obtain other forms of identification as soon as possible. Policy: Access to the Courts and Legal Materials/Law Library The RIDOC maintains a central law library with up-to-date constitutional, statutory, case law materials, applicable court rules and practices. Each facility has a small law library containing basic legal research materials, staffed by inmate law clerks. There is a set of inmate-related RIDOC policies in the law library of each facility. Questions regarding policies can be researched in that area. For case law and reference material not found in the facility s law library, a request may be submitted to the RIDOC central library. A law clerk can provide a request form. Request forms must be submitted with money transfer slips because a.05-per-page copying fee will be charged to process each request. You may use the law library during your recreation period. You can refer to the facility recreation schedule to plan your library time. If you need more time in the law library, you may make a request by submitting a slip to the area supervisor. There are law clerks available to assist you during library time. You should not hesitate to ask for the help of the law clerks.
Loud talking in the law library will not be tolerated. Law books are not to be removed from the library. You are allowed to request copies of certain parts of the law books. However, only the assigned copy machine operator can run the copy machine. There is currently a.05-per-page charge for all legal-related copies. The copy machine operator will have the forms you need for copies. Indigent inmates can receive up to 200 copies per month. The.05-cent charge will apply and may result in a negative account balance. You are to use your own materials in the law library, except typing paper. You may have a reasonable amount of legal papers in your possession. These materials must be about current cases or active appeals. A maximum of one cubic foot (12 inches high, 12 long and 12 wide) of material may be kept in your living area. You may request additional storage space for legal materials with proof of need. This material will be maintained in a secure area other than your living area. Anyone (including law clerks) found in possession of unauthorized legal material belonging to another person shall be subject to disciplinary action. Policy: Good Time-Awarding Meritorious and Restoring Lost or Forfeited Inmates serving sentences of six (6) months or more are eligible for statutory good time credit, industrial time credit (excluding those with life sentences) and restoration of lost or forfeited good time. Inmates serving one (1) year or more are eligible for meritorious good time credit. All inmates held on awaiting trial status are entitled to awaiting trial credit. Statutory good time credit, industrial time credit, meritorious good time credit, loss or forfeiture of good time and restoration of good time are all calculated pursuant to Rhode Island General Law (RIGL 42-56-24). Awaiting trial good time is calculated pursuant to Rhode Island General Law (RIGL 12-19-2). Statutory Good Behavior Credit If you are serving a sentence of six (6) months or more and not serving a life sentence, and appear to have faithfully obeyed all the rules and requirements of RIDOC and not been disciplined, you are eligible to have your sentence reduced each month by the number of days that are equal to the years in your sentence (not to exceed ten days per month). If your sentence is at least six (6) months and less than one (1) year, one (1) day per month can be deducted. If you have been disciplined and been given disciplinary confinement or suffered loss of privileges during a particular calendar month, you cannot earn good time for that month. Also, good time that has already been earned is reduced by the number of days you are in disciplinary confinement. The law is very specific on this point and the Supreme Court
has said that good time must be calculated in this way. Your Counselor can answer any specific questions you have. Industrial Time Industrial time credit is awarded to all eligible inmates sentenced for six (6) months or more and not serving life sentences and who are paid for work activities through which they develop good work habits and/or skills that benefit individual inmates or the State of Rhode Island (and are rehabilitative). The Director will only approve industrial time for you if you held a job for at least fifteen (15) days per calendar month. You can earn a maximum of two (2) days of industrial time credit per month. As jobs become available, every effort will be made to assign inmates who are not already working to these jobs quickly and fairly. Loss of Good Time Every inmate in disciplinary confinement or otherwise disciplined for bad conduct will have one (1) day of good time deducted from any good time gained for good conduct for each day ordered as a sanction at the disciplinary hearing. Restoration of Lost or Forfeited Good Time You may ask for your lost or forfeited good time back by filling out Request Forms or writing to your assigned Counselors. The request will be reviewed by the Assistant Director of Institutions and Operations/designee and be subject to approval of the Director. Meritorious Good Time Inmates sentenced to one (1) year or more are eligible for meritorious good time based upon: Performance of heroic acts affecting the lives and welfare of institutional personnel, inmates, or the general public; Submission of extraordinary and useful ideas and plans which have been implemented for the benefit of the state resulting in substantial savings and/or a higher degree of efficiency; Performance while participating in and completing academic or vocational programs; Submission of useful ideas concerning academic or vocational programs, which have been implemented at the RIDOC. The maximum award for meritorious good time is three (3) days per month not to exceed thirty-six (36) days per year. Awarding meritorious good time is not automatic or required. Your Counselor should send requests to the Assistant Director of Rehabilitative Services.
Awaiting Trial Good Time If you are sentenced to serve prison time, your sentence will be reduced by the number of days you spent in prison awaiting trial and awaiting sentence. Religious Programs and Services You have the right to the free exercise of religious beliefs and worship. You will not be denied contact with an accredited representative of your faith. You may at any time, within reason, make a request to have personal contact with a clergy representative of your faith. As an inmate of the RIDOC you will not be required or expected to attend any religious programs or services, or adhere to any religious beliefs. It is the responsibility of the Assistant Director of Rehabilitative Services to coordinate and supervise all religious programs. Inmate services and programs are scheduled, supervised and directed by institutional Chaplains. Other specific details may be found in the policy on Religious Programs and Services. A copy can be found in the inmate library and a counselor can help you with any questions. CHAPTER 3 COMMUNICATION Request Slips Request slips are a way of communicating with the various staff and officials of RIDOC. You can get these slips from a unit Officer and submit them for answers to questions, requests for information, assistance and discussion of problems. (The nature of a problem should be stated on the request slip.) Request slips will be acted upon at the lowest level of authority capable of handling the matter, regardless of to whom you sent the slip. Deposit all request slips in unit postal mailboxes. Staff/Inmate Communication It is the policy of RIDOC to maintain systems of communication. Lines of communication will include written and verbal communications to and from staff and inmates and contact with supervisory and administrative staff during their regular tours of the facility. RIDOC Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigates inmate-on-inmate complaints. The SIU Toll Free number is 462-2282. RIDOC Office of Inspection investigates all complaints about staff misconduct. The Office of Inspection s Toll Free number is 462-2551. Always use the Chain of Command within facilities. The Chain of Command is as follows:
Officers Lieutenants Captains Deputy Warden Warden Assistant Director of Institutions and Operations Director Failure to follow the chain of command may delay response as the request will be forwarded to the appropriate staff member for response. Policy: Monitoring Inmate Telephone Conversations RIDOC gives you reasonable access to telephones, consistent with your status, housing unit regulations, and policy guidelines. All telephone calls may be monitored, except calls between you and your attorney. Additionally, the following calls will not be monitored: RI Public Defender Offices Providence County District & Family Courts 458-3050 Providence County Superior Court 222-3492 Violations Providence 222-1313 Kent County Superior, District, Family Courts 822-2195 Washington County - Superior, District, Family Courts 782-4180 Newport County - Superior, District, Family Courts 841-8320 RIDOC SIU 462-2282 RIDOC Office of Inspection 462-2551 Rhode Island State Police (at RIDOC) 462-2650 Inmate telephones are located in each facility. Each new inmate is assigned a PIN (personal identification number) when committed. You must fill out an Inmate Telephone System Number Request Form in order to obtain the PIN, list the people you will call, and use inmate telephones. You must submit this form to the designated person in your facility. Once you receive your PIN, you may begin placing calls. You may only call those persons on your approved Inmate Telephone System Number Request Form. You may make changes to your telephone list by submitting a New Phone Number change form. Adult Counselors are only authorized to allow phone calls for emergency purposes, not because your attorney will not accept your call or there is a block on a number. All RIDOC inmates may place calls to RIDOC SIU at 462-2282, the Office of Investigations 462-2551, or the on-grounds Rhode Island State Police at 462-2650 and to Bail Bondsmen.
Requests for special needs calls should be directed to your Counselor. Each facility has its own rules on times available to use the telephone and the time allotted for calls. Abuse of telephone privileges for such actions as making fraudulent calls, harassing calls or third-party calls may result in loss of telephone privileges, disciplinary action, and/or criminal charges. The use of telephone cards is not permitted. All inmates on restrictive status may be granted phone calls to anyone on their telephone lists by submitting request slips to area Supervisors, Deputy Wardens or Wardens. Policy: Inmate Mail While you are confined to any of the sentenced facilities, you will be permitted uninterrupted correspondence provided it presents no threat to the safety and security of the institution, public officials, or the general public and is not being used to further illegal activities. Mail between inmates is not authorized, except in cases where the correspondence is between immediate family members or to another inmate who is a party to active litigation in which an inmate is acting pro-se. If you wish to write to other inmates, in one of these circumstances, you must submit a request to the facility Warden or his/her designee. You are to pay for all postage costs for outgoing mail unless you are indigent (see Inmate Accounts). This includes, but is not limited to, first class, special delivery, air mail, foreign bound letters, and registered or certified mail. You can buy books of stamps at the Commissary. You are not to use money transfer slips for standard first class postage unless you are indigent. You cannot accept stamps during visits or in the mail. You are not allowed to have more than two (2) books of stamps in your possession. All stamps must be attached in booklets. No loose stamps are allowed. There must not be any pictures, drawings, artwork of any kind, or unnecessary writing on the fronts of envelopes. All outgoing letters must be stamped and have your name and return address on the outside of the envelope. Letters without names and return addresses will be opened and returned to you, if possible. All outgoing mail will be deposited in the receptacle designated for this purpose. Due to heightened national security protocols, you will be disciplined and/or be subject to criminal charges if any envelope you send has powder or other foreign substances in it.
Policy: Indigent Inmates Policy defines an indigent inmate as one who is involuntarily unemployed, has less than $10.00 in his/her available account, and has had no deposits in the previous two months. Procedures for indigent inmate mail at every facility except the Intake Service Center and the Women s Division Awaiting Trial Unit are as follows: Use inmate money transfer form (See your Counselor to get one. If you are housed in the Intake Service Center or the Women s Division Awaiting Trial Unit, you can get the form from your Housing Unit s staff, a Superior Officer in your Housing Unit or during feedings, or your Counselor.) Fill in name and ID number Check off postage Write indigent in section reason for transferring money Sign the form Attach the form to the letter Give the form to the area supervisor or deposit it in a receptacle designated for this purpose. Procedures for indigent inmate mail at the Intake Service Center and the Women s Division Awaiting Trial Unit are as follows: Place mail unstamped in the central mail depository. The facility and central mailroom Officers randomly check unstamped mail to ensure the sender is indigent. Mail not being sent from an indigent inmate is returned to the inmate. Postage for three (3) recreational letters per week is allowed for indigent inmates. All privileged mail will be sent first class. The Department does not pay for certified or other special mailing categories for indigent inmates. Mail not meeting these criteria is returned to the inmate. All mail sent to you should be addressed as follows: John/Jane Doe (Inmate s name) Inmate s ID# (Inmate s cell number and assigned building) Facility P.O. Box Number Cranston, RI 02920
Facility P.O. Box Numbers are as follows: High Security=8200 Maximum=8273 Medium I/Moran=8274 Medium II/Price=20983 Minimum=8212 Women s=8312 Intake Service Center=8249 All incoming mail may be opened and checked for contraband. If it is determined to be privileged, the mail will be opened in your presence. All monies sent to you must be in the form of a check or money order, must come from someone on your visiting list, and must show a return address on the check or money order. To speed up the process of having funds deposited into your account, all checks and money orders should be sent directly to Inmate Accounts and include your inmate ID number. Cash will not be accepted through the mail. You will not be allowed to spend money received in this manner until it clears the bank and is posted to your account. This process could take up to ten (10) working days. The address for Inmate Accounts is as follows: Inmate Accounts 51 West Road Cranston, RI 02920 Printed Material Only soft cover books, newspapers, and periodicals sent from publishers will be accepted as incoming mail to an inmate. As a general rule, any printed material, including newspapers, drawings, magazines, pamphlets, books, or photographs may be excluded, if it is determined to be detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline of the institution, if the effect may hinder rehabilitation, facilitate criminal activity, or contribute to a hostile environment. Sexually explicit publications are prohibited. Sexually explicit material means a pictorial depiction of sexual acts including sexual intercourse, oral sex, and/or masturbation. If you are serving a sentence that would require you upon release to register as a sexual offender pursuant to RIGL and RIDOC policy, you are also prohibited from materials that feature nudity. Child sexual abusers are further prohibited from ordering child and family oriented publications.
CHAPTER 4 PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Friendships with several inmates are encouraged. You are discouraged from establishing personal intimate relationships with other inmates. Exclusive relationships in group living settings frequently result in circumstances requiring discipline. Relationships with staff are to be professional only. The job of an Officer is to provide security, custody and control. In the event that you need counseling, you may ask an Officer to refer you to the facility Counselor or psychological services. The area supervisor is also available to provide referrals for counseling when required. Policy: Visits It is the policy of RIDOC to encourage inmates, in a manner consistent with sound security practices, to have regular social visits with relatives and other individuals in order to maintain close family ties and other positive relationships. As defined by the Warden or designee, visiting rules, regulations and schedules for inmates are posted in each living area of each facility. The visiting schedule is posted monthly and regulated by the scheduling, space, and personnel constraints of each facility to ensure normal and orderly operations. Pursuant to RIGL and RIDOC policy, smoking is prohibited in the visiting areas of all facilities. You are allowed nine (9) names on your visiting list. Two (2) additional names will be allowed for mail money deposits only and the person must pass the BCI and NCIC checks. Criminal background checks (BCI and NCIC) will be done on all visitors. Sentenced inmates can add names to their visitor list by submitting a BCI visiting list form (see your Counselor or the Visiting Room Lieutenant for the form). The form must contain the visitor s full name, address (street, city, state), date of birth and relationship to you. Requests may be submitted to the housing Officer or the facility Counselor for forwarding to the facility Officer who will conduct BCI and NCIC checks. Names may also be deleted from your visitor list via a Request Slip. Visitors may only appear on the visiting list of one (1) inmate. The only exception is where the visitor is an immediate family member of more than one (1) inmate confined at the RIDOC. The approval of the Director or Assistant Director of Institutions and Operations is required for any other exception. A certain clergy person may be designated as a Clergy of Record for you. Clergy of Record Request Forms (see your building s Chaplain or your Counselor for the form) are submitted to the Assistant Director of Rehabilitative Services. Once verification is
completed, the individual is authorized to serve as your Clergy of Record and is allowed to visit daily 8:30 a.m. through 8:30 p.m. The name of the Clergy of Record is added to your visiting list as a separate visit and does not displace family or other professional visits. A visitor with a felony conviction(s) and/or pending charge(s), and/or if the background check reveals a plea of nolo contendere for a felony offense, or that s/he is on probation for a felony offense who is an immediate family member may be granted visitation, contingent upon the approval of the Assistant Director of Institutions and Operations or designee. Visits, if granted, will be limited to once per month until the visitor has demonstrated that s/he was a law-abiding citizen for three (3) consecutive years. The once-per-month restriction may be lifted following the 3-year period. The following categories represent circumstances and procedures for allowing special visits beyond the normal visiting program as outlined in the RIDOC visits policy. Visits to Hospitalized Inmates There are special rules which govern visits to hospitalized inmates. These rules are detailed in the RIDOC policy on Visits. You may view a copy of the entire policy in the inmate library. A librarian can help you find the policy and a Counselor can help you with any questions. Long Distance Visits Occasionally an inmate s family member or friend who is not on the approved visiting list may travel a long distance and arrive at a time and/or day NOT scheduled as a visiting period for a particular inmate. In such instances, approval to visit may be granted by the Warden or designee of the facility on a case-by-case basis. Any distance exceeding a radius of seventy-five (75) miles from Cranston, Rhode Island is considered long distance for visiting purposes. Long distance visits are limited to four (4) visits per calendar year and visitors must display proper identification. For example, if a visitor arrived from California for a 2-week stay s/he could visit more than once during that 2-week period. His/her multiple visits would count as one (1) instance. Likewise, if that same visitor visited only once during his/her 2-week stay, that single visit would also be considered one instance. B, C, and Disciplinary Confinement (DC) Status Inmates B, and C offenders are allowed one (1) visit per week; All B, C, and DC status visits are held in an area approved by the Warden or designee; Such visits may not exceed one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes;
All C and DC status visits are non-contact and conducted via telephone communication, whereby the inmate is separated from the visitor by a glass security panel. Inmates in disciplinary confinement are authorized visits with attorneys and clergy only. Professional Visits Professional visits include attorney, clergy, law enforcement officers, social workers, community health care workers, or others approved by the Warden or designee. With the permission of the Warden, professional visitors may be allowed to visit at times not generally considered to be part of the normal workday. The Warden or designee of each facility designates an area to be utilized for professional visiting. All professional visitors are subject to the same rules and regulations as regular visitors. The attorney of an inmate may visit as frequently as necessary for the purpose of assisting his/her client. Visits from Minors Minors must demonstrate they have the consent of their parent (s) or guardian(s) to visit you and must be accompanied by an adult while visiting. Parents/guardians will be required to submit a Minor Permission Slip in person to the facility Reception Officer. You can get this form from your Counselor. Your visitors can get this form at the Reception Desk. Your visitors must show valid photo identification along with the child(ren) s birth certificate(s) or some other official court document establishing legal guardianship. Common Law Marriages In order to prove the existence and validity of a common-law marriage, the RIDOC has specific requirements. These requirements are detailed in the RIDOC policy on Visits. You may view a copy of the entire policy in the inmate library. A librarian can help you find the policy and a Counselor can help you with any questions. CHAPTER 5 PROPERTY Policy: Inmate Property Accountability/Incoming Property Requests for personal property are to be directed to and approved by the facility Property Officer. Requests for property are subject to facility guidelines. You must get approval before you order items from the Commissary, publishers or other approved providers. Property arriving at any facility without prior approval will be returned or discarded.
Property will only be accepted through the U.S. Postal Service and no property will be accepted from UPS, Federal Express, or other special delivery service. (Exceptions-see court clothes). All incoming and outgoing property will be managed by the facility Property Officer. This includes repairs to TV s and radios. All worn, broken or unusable property must be discarded through the facility Property Officer. This will ensure that your property is properly removed from your inventory. Property discarded by any other means will not be eligible for exchange or replacement. In all cases, you will be responsible for all charges incurred including return postage on property, if applicable. Court Clothes Each facility will accept court clothes for inmates with active court cases. Court clothes may be dropped off during designated hours at the Reception Desk. Sneakers, boots and sweat suits will not be accepted as court clothes. At the completion/resolution of court matters, you are required to either mail out the clothes (including footwear) at your expense or have them picked up. Laundry Personal laundry is done within the facility. You are instructed to check the facility schedule for specific days and times that apply to your living areas. Institutional or specialty laundry will be done per facility schedule. Policy: Inmate Commissary You may order items from the Commissary at least once each week. You cannot order items in excess of authorizations. Total orders may not exceed the posted limit within a facility. Unless otherwise posted, you complete and submit a store order and place it in the store order box in the designated area no later than the breakfast meal on Monday morning each week. Store order forms are located at mailboxes where you mail your Commissary slips. Orders will be distributed as scheduled in each facility. You must order those items necessary for health and sanitation before ordering comfort items such as food. If the Commissary is out of an item you request, credit will be given for the item items will not be back-ordered. You may order packets of over-the-counter (OTC) medication in any combination not to exceed 10 packets. These packets are to be kept in your living area. You must use or discard any packets you open.
Other than transporting OTC medication from the Commissary to the living area, you may not carry packets of OTC medication on your person. CHAPTER 6 EMPLOYMENT Inmate Jobs RIDOC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, ethnicity, national origin, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or the presence of a sensory, mental, or physical disability, or other status protected by law. RIDOC also provides reasonable accommodations for inmates with identifiable disabilities when selecting inmates for work assignments. Policy: Inmate Employment: Selection, Training, and Supervision Each facility has jobs that inmates can be paid to do. To request a job, submit a Request Slip to the Job Assignment Officer(s). The Job Assignment Officer(s) reserve(s) the right to make assignments consistent with the health and welfare of the individual inmate including compliance with his/her individualized program plan. Whenever possible, work schedules are arranged to facilitate program participation. The Job Assignment Officer(s) consider(s) all available information when selecting an inmate to fill a vacancy (i.e., institutional record, skill, job site security, etc.). You may be required to wait thirty (30) days before the Job Assignment Officer considers any request for a change of job assignment. You cannot be assigned to more than one (1) paid job at a time. Policy: Inmate Pay You may be paid one (1) of four (4) pay rates for jobs ranging from $1.00 to $3.00 per day. As an exception to these rates, a facility Warden may establish jobs paying a flat rate of.50 per day. All new inmate workers enter at the lowest pay level assigned to their jobs. An inmate who is out of work due to ill health is not paid for the days he/she misses work. Pay Rate and Discipline If you are placed on disciplinary status for six (6) days loss of privileges (LOP) or less, not related to your job assignment, you may return to your job at the same rate of pay at the discretion of your work supervisor. If you are placed on disciplinary status for over six (6) days, whether job related or not, you will lose your job.
Upon completion of discipline, you may request and be assigned to a new job assignment, but you must begin at the lowest pay level, regardless of your pay level before the discipline. If you are disciplined for infraction(s) related to your specific job, you are subject to being fired from your job assignment. CHAPTER 7 INMATE ACCOUNTS Policies: Inmate Accounts, Accountability of Inmate Money /Checks Deposits All monies sent to you must be in the form of a check or money order. All such funds must come from someone on your visiting list and must have a return address on the check or money order. To have funds quickly deposited into your account, all checks and money orders should be sent directly to Inmate Accounts and should include your inmate ID number. Cash will not be accepted through the mail. You cannot spend money received in this manner until it clears the bank and is posted to your account. This process could take up to ten (10) working days. Deposits to your account can be made in-person. Deposits which are made in-person must be made at the following location: Inmate Accounts Office 51 West Road Cranston, RI 02920 Hours of Operation Monday thru Friday (excluding holidays) 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Awaiting trial inmates or those inmates incarcerated at RIDOC via the interstate compact will be given a 30-day grace period in which funds received from persons not yet on their visiting lists will be honored. These deposits will be carefully examined.
You should request that individuals who may not actually visit, but who will be depositing funds into or receiving funds from your account be included on your visiting list. These individuals will be subject to and must be able to pass BCI and NCIC checks. You will be allowed to have up to two (2) names on your visiting list beyond the normal nine, which will be limited to mailing money deposits only. Funds received from any other source in person or through the mail, except as noted above, will be refused or returned to the sender. In the event the funds cannot be returned, they will be deposited into the State of Rhode Island s General Fund. The Inmate Accounts Office will notify you whenever funds that did not qualify for deposit are returned to the sender or deposited in the General Fund. Expenditures and Authority for Approval Money Transfer forms are required to transfer funds. With the approval of the Warden or designee, you may transfer funds from your account for expenditures for the following purposes: Payments to dependents and/or members of your immediate families; Payments to others if the purpose is for personal debt incurred before your confinement; The support of immediate family member(s); To persons on the inmate s approved visiting list; Approved bank deposit; Subscriptions to approved periodicals, newspapers and approved books (must be ordered directly from the publisher); Purchase of prescription eyeglasses (only RIDOC medical approved); Payment for copyrights, birth certificates, license renewals, and legal documents; Purchase of U.S. savings bonds; Payment of income tax; Postage; Purchase of educational material recommended and/or approved by the RI Dept. of Education or RIDOC s Education Unit; Payment for lost or stolen state property; Purchase of Bibles or other religious literature approved by the Chaplain; Repairs of eyeglasses and/or TVs; Bail, legal fees, or court costs; Commissary purchases. When sending money out of your account, you must provide a stamped, addressed envelope. Transfer of funds from one inmate account to the account of another (immediate family members only) or other entities or exceptions must be approved by the Warden, or designee.
Purchases from outside vendors must be approved by the Warden or designee. An Officer must verify your signature on a money transfer slip. You should sign the money transfer slip in front of an Officer. Money Transfers Exceptions to the above instructions must be specifically approved by the Warden or designee. You are not allowed to use an inactive account, except to pay court costs or fines (lawyers do not qualify). Law clerks have the special forms for inactive accounts. Funds from inmate accounts cannot be transferred to any RIDOC employee. Upon discharge, you may withdraw all of your funds from any active or inactive inmate account. Withdrawal of Monies at Release If you are being discharged Monday through Friday, you will be able to withdraw $25.00 in cash. The balance will be given to you in a check. You must appear in person at the Office of Inmate Accounts during normal working hours 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:00-3:00 p.m. You must present one of the following: Inmate Discharge ID card; Driver s license (with photo); Picture bus pass; or Court or parole release papers. If you are being discharged on a weekend or a holiday, you must submit a Request Slip to the Inmate Accounts Office requesting that your monies be sent to the particular discharging facility. This must be done in advance of your discharge so that you can receive monies when you are discharged. The request slip must list your name, your ID#, and date of discharge. Only those slips for weekend or holiday discharges will be processed in this manner. You will receive $10.00 in cash and the account balance in a check. CHAPTER 8 DISCIPLINE Smoking and Tobacco Regulations The use of all tobacco products and accessories, including but not limited to pipes, cigarettes, cigarette papers, chewing tobacco, cigars, matches and lighters, is prohibited within any and all buildings, vehicles, and property under the control of the RIDOC. The inmate Commissary does not sell or stock any tobacco products. Smoking and/or the use/possession of tobacco-related products by inmates is/are prohibited.
Passing, receiving and/or possessing tobacco or tobacco related products are all violations. Discipline will be administered consistent with the Code of Inmate Discipline. Substance Abuse Testing The RIDOC is committed to a policy of detection and punishment of inmate drug and/or alcohol use. The use of illegal drugs by inmates presents a serious threat to the safety and security of the RIDOC staff and incarcerated population. You may be required to give a urine sample at any time. If you cannot give one at the time of the request, you will be segregated from the other inmates for up to four (4) hours. You can be given eight (8) ounces of water during this time, but you must ask for it. If after four (4) hours you still fail to give a urine sample, you will be placed on disciplinary report and may be transferred to another area pending possible disciplinary action. You may still be required to give a urine sample after being placed on disciplinary report. If you test positive for any substance when submitting a urine specimen, you have the option of having that urine tested at a designated outside laboratory. One-half (1/2) cup of urine is required for this outside test. If you do not produce one-half (1/2) cup of urine, no outside test is possible. If the specimen is confirmed positive at the outside laboratory, you will be charged approximately $120.00 to cover the cost of the test, and you will be disciplined. If the specimen is negative, you will not be charged any cost for the test and there will be no disciplinary action. You will be held accountable for positive drug/alcohol tests. In all cases where you have been found guilty of a disciplinary report for a drug and/or alcohol violation, you will be interviewed by RIDOC s SIU in an effort to determine the source of the drugs and/or alcohol. In all cases where an inmate has been found guilty of a drug and/or alcohol violation, a sanction from a graduated scale of sanctions will be imposed. Positive urines may result in discipline time, loss of good time and loss of visiting privileges. Gang Activity RIDOC is committed to a zero tolerance policy on gang activity. You are not permitted to wear or display gang colors, possess paraphernalia, give hand signals, create graffiti or be involved in any other gang activity including meetings, recruiting, etc. Any violation pertaining to gang activity will result in immediate disciplinary action.
Sexual Misconduct Policy: Inmate Sexual Violence Sexual Misconduct/Harassment Toward Inmates The RIDOC is committed to a zero tolerance for inmate-on-inmate sexual violence and staff sexual misconduct/harassment toward inmates. Every allegation will be thoroughly investigated and where warranted by evidence, proportional sanctions, up to and including criminal prosecution, will be implemented. A comprehensive training program is administered to all staff and the inmate population in order to emphasize the importance of preventing prison sexual assault and promote awareness of the serious impact of sexual victimization within the correctional setting. Consensual sexual acts and consensual attempts to commit such acts are prohibited. Pursuant to Rhode Island General Law (RIGL), any RIDOC employee or employee of a contractor who is under contract to provide services in a correctional institution who engages in sexual penetration as defined in RIGL with an inmate confined in a correctional institution or otherwise under the direct custodial supervision and control of that employee shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine. Inmates, staff and other individuals wanting to report allegations of sexual misconduct may contact correctional staff, medical staff, Counselors, Office of Inspection, Special Investigations Unit, Rhode Island State Police, or any other reporting source of their choosing. If you need assistance in filing a complaint, you may contact your Counselor. All allegations of sexual misconduct reported to staff will be forwarded to the appropriate authority for investigation. All reasonable steps will be taken by the RIDOC to protect the alleged victim. CHAPTER 9 DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES Policy: Code of Inmate Discipline The RIDOC subscribes to a disciplinary policy, the Code of Inmate Discipline, that is fair, impartial and constitutional. The Code of Inmate Discipline classifies discipline infractions based on a severity scale and specifies graduated sanctions. The purposes of the Code of Inmate Discipline are as follows: To provide a clear understanding of prohibited conduct involving institutional safety, security, and order of the facilities; To establish guidelines and procedures to address failure to comply with rules of conduct; and To define the process of judging allegations of misconduct and imposing sanctions for violations of the Code.
The details of the disciplinary process described here are a summary. A copy of the Code of Inmate Discipline policy is available in the law library of each RIDOC facility. Inmate orientation sessions will include information about the major portions of the Code of Inmate Discipline. The policy is printed in English and Spanish. You are strongly encouraged to familiarize yourself with this policy. Discipline at RIDOC can be classified into three (3) categories: 1. Verbal warning an Officer or employee observing minor violations handles such incidents tactfully and firmly by warning and counseling. 2. Disciplinary waiver (1-or 2-nighter) authorizes the waiver of a formal disciplinary procedure for minor violations with either 24 or 48 hours loss of privileges. This action is not reflected in your central file and does not result in the loss of good time. If you refuse the disciplinary waiver and request a hearing for the offense, and are found guilty, the Hearing Officer may impose a sanction of up to 5 days loss of privileges which becomes part of your central file and results in loss of good time. 3. Formal discipline a formal charge of a violation of the rules which requires a hearing before a Hearing Officer (facility supervisor assigned by the Warden/designee). In any action under the Code of Inmate Discipline, there are six (6) mandatory steps: 1. Written charge; 2. Review by Superior Officer/designee; 3. Notice to the inmate; 4. Hearing before a Hearing Officer; 5. Administrative review by Warden/designee; 6. Record. The Disciplinary Process The disciplinary process begins with the initiation of a Disciplinary Report (booking) (written report) by a staff member upon discovery of a violation of the Code of Inmate Discipline by an inmate. The charging employee will submit the written report to a Superior Officer as soon as possible after the alleged violation has occurred. A Superior Officer will verbally tell you who filed a written report against you no later than one (1) day after the filing of the charge. The Superior Officer will also ask you if you want a representative at your hearing. Representatives are assigned Counselors who will assist you during hearings. You have a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours to prepare a defense for a disciplinary hearing. Disciplinary hearings are held before a Hearing Officer appointed by the Warden/designee. You shall be present at the hearing unless you waive your appearance.
Options available to Hearing Officer are as follows: 1. Dismissal of charge; 2. Finding of guilt and issuance of reprimand (Class 3 and 4 offenses only); 3. Finding of Guilt and loss of good time in accordance with RIGL; A. Recommendation/referral to Classification Board for review of classification status; B. Temporary loss of specified privileges within inmate classification not to exceed fifteen (15) days; C. One (1) day to one (1) year in disciplinary confinement, depending on the class of offense. (Loss of good time in accordance with RIGL); D. Restitution (for willful disfigurement, damage, and/or destruction of state property); E. Any combination of A-D above. A Hearing Officer may also find you guilty of a lesser charge or violation of rules than the one for which you were originally charged. Punishable Conduct Conduct that is punishable under the Code of Inmate Discipline policy is categorized into four (4) classes of offenses: 1. Class 1, Highest, two subcategories: a. Class 1 - predatory Possible Sanction: 31 days to 1-year disciplinary confinement. b. Class 1- non-predatory Possible Sanction: 21 to 30 days disciplinary confinement. 2. Class 2, High Possible Sanction: 1 to 20 days disciplinary confinement. 3. Class 3, Moderate Possible Sanction: discipline less than disciplinary confinement; 6 to 15 days loss of privileges. 4. Class 4, Low Moderate Possible Sanction: discipline less than disciplinary confinement; up to 5 days loss of privileges. Substance abuse related offenses have particular possible sanctions which can be imposed after a hearing and finding of guilt. 1 st offense: Possible sanction: 21 to 23 days disciplinary confinement 2 nd offense: Possible sanction: 24 to 26 days disciplinary confinement